Ecclesiastes 5:10–7:29

10  He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase. This also is vanity. 11  When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what profit is there to the owner thereof, except the beholding of them with his eyes? 12  The sleep of the labourer is sweet, whether he have eaten little or much; but the fulness of the rich doth not suffer him to sleep. 13  There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt; 14  or those riches perish by some evil circumstance, and if he have begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand. 15  As he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked shall he go away again as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. 16  And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came so doth he go away, and what profit hath he, in having laboured for the wind? 17  All his days also he eateth in darkness, and hath much vexation, and sickness, and irritation.

18  Behold what I have seen good and comely: it is to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labour wherewith man laboureth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for that is his portion. 19  Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and power to eat thereof, and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labour: that is a gift of God. 20  For he will not much remember the days of his life, because God answereth him with the joy of his heart.

Chapter 6

1  There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is frequent among men: 2  one to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honour, and he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and a sore evil. 3  If a man beget a hundred sons, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, but his soul be not filled with good, and also he have no burial, I say an untimely birth is better than he. 4  For it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness; 5  moreover it hath not seen nor known the sun: this hath rest rather than the other. 6  Yea, though he live twice a thousand years, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

7  All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled. 8  For what advantage hath the wise above the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living? 9  Better is the seeing of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and pursuit of the wind. 10  That which is hath already been named; and what man is, is known, and that he cannot contend with him that is mightier than he.

11  For there are many things that increase vanity: what is man advantaged? 12  For who knoweth what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell man what shall be after him under the sun?

Chapter 7

1  A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. 2  It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart. 3  Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 4  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth. 5  It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools. 6  For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

7  Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart. 8  Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit. 9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools. 10  Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.

11  Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun. 12  For wisdom is a defence as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom maketh them that possess it to live. 13  Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked? 14  In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing of what shall be after him. 15  All this have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his days by his wickedness. 16  Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 17  Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? 18  It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all. 19  Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men that are in a city. 20  Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not. 21  Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee. 22  For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

23  All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. 24  Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out? 25  I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness; 26  and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her. 27  See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, searching one by one to find out the reason; 28  which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found. 29  Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.